Author's Note: Special thanks to everyone who's read my previous works. This was a long time in the making, as I wasn't as focused this time around. But it should be something special nonetheless. Please R & R!


Chapter 24

Now that morning was here, Saria knew what had to do be done. But she was just a Kokiri, and she knew she wouldn't get far with the Gerudo. So she would let Malon ask the questions since she apparently knew them. Besides that, Saria's mind was elsewhere.

"Long night," Myra groaned. "I couldn't sleep with the noise of the falling moon."

"Just how DID that thing start falling, anyway?" Mara asked.

"We…may have some idea," Malon said slowly. "But we need to ask you an important question."

"You said it was about the boy," Myra pointed out. "What is it?"

"Link's missing," Malon said bluntly. "He's the only one who can do something about the moon, but he's been gone for weeks. We tried to find him at Hyrule Castle, but there we found out that Princess Zelda's missing too."

"What makes you think we know?" Mara asked curiously.

"To be honest, we don't," Malon admitted. "We don't know why we came here. But we're new at this sort of thing. Usually, the hero thing is reserved for Link. We had to start somewhere…and I thought since we were old friends, I was sort of hoping you could give us some clues as to where to look next."

Silence.

"I…don't know what to tell you," Mara said.

"We haven't seen the boy," Myra added. "In fact, no one's been around the Gerudo's Fortress in months."

Malon hung her head down, as did Saria.

"Except for that one guy," Mara suddenly said. "Someone who asked for directions to the ranch."

Malon lifted her head up abruptly. "The ranch?! What guy?!"

"Is there something wrong?" Mara asked ignorantly.

"Have you forgotten I live at the ranch?" Malon growled. "When did this guy come by?"

"He came by a few weeks ago," Mara answered. She suddenly realized what this meant. "Oh…"

Saria tugged on Malon's sleeve. "What are the odds that this guy has something to do with Link's disappearance?"

"It's more than a coincidence," Malon replied. She looked at the two Gerudo. "Girls, where did this guy go?"

"Well, we didn't know where the ranch was," Myra confessed. "So we directed him towards Lake Hylia and told him to ask for directions there."

Malon got to her feet. "Thank you, girls. If what you say is true, then my friend and I have no time to waste. We have to leave right away."

Before hearing any goodbyes, Malon started walking out. Saria got up and followed her out. It looked like they were going to Lake Hylia.

"Lake Hylia is uninhabited," Malon said when they were outside. "There's only one person who lives out there and that's the medicine man. So he'll know where that guy is."

Saria had to put two and two together. "If he was looking for the ranch, does that mean…?"

"He must've done something with Link," Malon finished. "So it must be this guy who's got Majora's Mask. We have to find out where he went."

With that thought in mind, Saria and Malon left the Gerudo's Fortress and headed out for Lake Hylia.


Chapter 25

It was a long road from Gerudo Valley to Lake Hylia. So Saria felt like she should find a way to pass the time.

"Malon?"

"Yes, Saria?"

"What happened to Link after he left the observatory?"

Malon smiled. It looked like she was enjoying telling this story. "After he left the observatory, Link had to find a way to get up to the clock tower. So that's when he decided to haggle with one of his 'fellow' Deku Scrubs…"

Link knew there was one way to get up to the clock tower. There was a flower positioned near it that he could use to elevate himself up to the top. Link ran back to South Clock Town, but just as he got to the flower…

"Hey! Hold it!"

It was a Deku Scrub. He was one of business breed and it looked like this flower was his place of business.

"I don't appreciate you trying to use this plot while I'm not around," the scrub said. "This is my place of business and it's mine!" The Deku Scrub sighed deeply. "It's a shame, though. I'm already sold out of my wares and the carnival isn't even here yet. I feel like closing up shop and going home to my wife. But I need to buy her a gift before I go. I've heard good things about a thing called a 'Moon's Tear.' I heard they shine brighter than anything out here."

Link's ears were burning. "Did you say a 'Moon's Tear'?"

"That's right," the Deku Scrub said. "If you've got one, I'd love to get it from you. My wife would love it. I'd give you anything for it."

"Anything?"

"Yes, anything."

"Give me your spot," Link suggested. "With the Deku Flower included and I'll give you a Moon's Tear."

"It's a deal!" the Deku Scrub said cheerfully.

Link pulled out the Moon's Tear and gave it to the Deku Scrub. In exchange, the Deku Scrub gave Link the Land Title Deed.

"You may have saved my marriage, pal," the Deku Scrub said. "Hold on to that Land Title Deed. I've heard it's in demand among other Deku Scrubs like me. Whenever you don't need it, you can always sell it."

With those words, the Deku Scrubs grabbed his bags and made his way out. Link took advantage of his new territory and positioned himself on the Deku Flower. He flew up to the door of the clock tower and found he could go no further.

"The door to the clock tower opens only on the eve of the carnival," Tatl pointed out. "We'll have to wait."

Link nodded and sat by the door. Indeed…he would wait.



Chapter 26

"He didn't have to wait long," Malon continued as they continued through Hyrule Field. "At midnight, Link would confront the Skull Kid. And then…he would learn a lot more about Majora's Mask."

This was the part of the story Saria was waiting for. Finally, she could learn more about this evil mask.

"So then, midnight struck…"

Midnight struck. Fireworks lit up the sky and the door to the clock tower started to open ever so slowly. When the series of doors were finally open, Link ran in as fast as a Deku Scrub could go. And indeed, waiting inside was the Skull Kid and the other fairy. The Skull Kid held the Ocarina of Time in his hands.

"Sis!!" the other fairy cried out.

"Tael!!" Tatl shouted. "We've been looking everywhere for you two!"

"Give me back my ocarina!!" Link demanded.

"Will you calm down?!" Tatl snapped. She looked up at the Skull Kid. "Hey, Skull Kid, I have an idea. What if you gave that mask you're wearing back now?"

Silence.

"Hey! Aren't you listening to me?"

The Skull Kid wasn't listening. That's when Tael took action for himself. He flew out in front of the Skull Kid.

"Swamp. Mountain. Ocean. Canyon. The four that live there…bring them here…HURRY!"

The Skull Kid got angry and swatted Tael with his hand. "Stupid fairy! How dare you speak out of turn!"

Tatl flashed in anger. "HEY!! What are you doing to my brother?! Skull Kid, you think you're still our friend after that?!"

"Whatever," the Skull Kid said casually. "Even if those four were to come now, they could not stop me. I am too powerful. Why don't you look above you and see? If you think it can be stopped, then I'd like to see you try."

"I can stop it!" Link shouted boldly. "And I'll stop you too!"

Link took advantage of his bubble power. He shot a large bubble at the Skull Kid. He was stunned by that sudden hit and dropped the Ocarina of Time. Link rushed to pick it up. That's when he saw the vision.

He saw a vision of Princess Zelda. She held the Ocarina of Time in her hand. He could hear her speaking.

"I'll never forget the days we spent in Hyrule. I know we'll meet again. Until then, take the Ocarina of Time. If something should ever happen, remember this song…"

The song sounded so familiar, as well it should have. It was the Song of Time. He was enraptured by those memories…until…

"HEY!!"

It was Tatl. Her screech helped bring Link back to reality.

"Pull yourself together, man!" Tatl continued. "Stop daydreaming! Getting that old thing back isn't going to help us."

Link had an idea, though. "That's what you think!"

He tried finding the Ocarina of Time…but instead found…horns. It was weird to say the least, but Link realized it must've been the magic of the ocarina that made it happen. Link didn't waste any time in playing the Song of Time. In a flash of light, Link found himself out of the clock tower…and back in front of the double doors. It was no longer night, but day. Link didn't know what to think, but Tatl realized what happened.

"Everything…started over," she said. "We're back in time."

Link knew what that meant. He ran to an open area and looked up at the sky. The moon was back in the sky, but it was still set on a collision course. Tatl was flashing repeatedly. She seemed to be spooked.

"What…what are you?" Tatl asked in awe. "That song you played…that instrument…what was that?!"

"It's what I need to change me back," Link answered cheerfully. "I've got to see the Mask Shop owner."

Link trotted back into the double doors to see the Mask Shop owner.



Chapter 27

"Link finally had the Ocarina of Time back," Malon continued. "So he rushed in to have the Mask Salesman change him back. But Link found out he wasn't done. After he was changed back, he learned about Majora's Mask…"

"Do you have your instrument back?"

Link proudly nodded. That got the Mask Salesman excited. He started shaking Link.

"Oh, you got it! You got it! You got it! You got it! You got it! In that case, you should play this song I'm about to play. Remember it well, because this is the song that will not only change you back, but will serve you well in the future."

On a large organ, the Mask Shop owner played a song known only as the Song of Healing. After a few tries, Link got it down. Then, in a flash of light, a mask fell to the ground. Link felt around and was assured to know that he was himself again. Link was no longer a Deku Scrub.

"I'M ME AGAIN!!!" Link shouted in glee. "Hey...what is that song?"

"It's a song that heals evil magic and troubled spirits," the salesman answered. "It turns them into masks. I'm sure you'll find that helpful. In commemoration, I'll let you have that mask that fell to the ground."

Link picked up the Deku Scrub mask and put it away in his tunic. He shuddered to think of having to walk around like that again. At least now he could somewhat control it.

"Now I've upheld my end of the bargain," the salesman said. "So now it's your turn. Please give me back my mask."

Link…stood silent. He didn't know what to say. He forgot all about getting his mask back. The Mask Shop owner started to worry.

"Don't tell me…"

Link gulped. "I…may…have…forgotten…"

"You didn't…"

"I…might…have…been…busy…"

"My mask…You DID remember it, didn't you."

Link shook his head. "I'm…sorry. I…don't have it."

Just then, the Mask Shop owner snapped. He grabbed Link by the tunic and started shaking him. Link could hardly believe it. He had beaten Ganondorf and his evil minions and now he was afraid of a hysterical Mask Salesman.

"What have you done to me!!" the Mask Salesman shouted. "If you leave my mask out there, something terrible will happen!! The mask is called Majora's Mask. It was used by the ancient tribes in their rituals. Legend has it that an evil power is bestowed on the one who wears the mask. And legend goes on to say that Majora's Mask is SO powerful that it can bring about Armageddon. That is why the ancient ones chose to seal it in the shadows before such a disaster ever happened. But the ancient ones disappeared, so nobody knows of the true power of Majora's Mask. But I feel the power."

"Y-Y-You do?"

"I went to great lengths to find that mask," he continued. "When I finally had it, I sensed the doom of the dark omen brewing. The feeling of Armageddon…the kind that makes your hair stand on end…the kind that gives you Goosebumps…the kind that makes you shiver in fright. And now…it's in the hands of that imp. You must get that mask back!! You must do it before something horrible happens!!"

Link saw he had no choice. He felt there might have been a reason he was in Termina. It was a feeling of fate…a feeling of destiny. This must've been fate's way of giving Link a new quest…even though Link had had enough of quests.

"I'll do it. I'll get your mask back."

"I knew you'd say that," the Mask Shop owner said calmly. "You have great courage, young one. I am confident you will succeed. Good luck. I'll be waiting."

Link sighed deeply and walked out of the double doors. It was true. Everything had started over and he found himself with three days to save Termina from the Skull Kid.

"What do we do now?" Link asked.

"Tael said something about the four who could help us," Tatl answered. "I…don't know how they can help us. Tael tends to leave those little details out. But we should start at the swamp. We can reach it from South Clock Town."

Link started walking towards the Clock Town exit…ready to embark on a new journey.



Chapter 28

Having heard this story, Saria learned a little more about Majora's Mask. Unfortunately, all she learned so far was that Majora's Mask was even more lethal than she thought, and that was definitely a bad thing.

But Malon added one more thing. "Link still had no idea how to stop the Skull Kid, and he didn't have any idea until he got to the Woodfall Temple. But…"

Malon looked forward. Saria did the same and saw that they had arrived in Lake Hylia.

"…That part of the story will have to wait," Saria finished for her. "Let's go."

When Saria and Malon walked into the lone Lakeside Laboratory of Lake Hylia, they saw the medicine man didn't see them coming. To say he was a recluse had to be an understatement. Nobody knew anything about this old man. But Saria and Malon knew one thing. Someone came by here asking for directions to the ranch and there was only one person here to ask.

Malon tried knocking on a wall. "Hello?"

The medicine man abruptly turned around. He was clearly caught by surprise. "Oh, I wasn't expecting any visitors." He looked down at Saria. "Especially such unusual looking visitors."

"We…were just passing by," Malon tried saying. "And we needed to ask you…a question."

"I'm in no mood for answering questions," the old man said. "Impending Armageddon can take a lot out of an old man like me."

"What if I said we were trying to find a way to stop it?" Malon suggested.

The medicine man laughed at that notion. "I don't think a falling moon CAN be stopped. And even if it could, I doubt that the saviors of Hyrule would be two girls…especially when one of those girls seem so young."

"Never mind…my niece," Malon said. She was still trying to cover for Saria. "We need your help. You can help us by telling us who the last person to come by Lake Hylia was."

"I don't believe I know what you're talking about," the medicine man denied.

"I was told by some friends that someone came by here," Malon clarified. "And since you're the only one who lives in this area, I thought you'd be able to tell me what he looked like."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said again.

"I think you do remember," Saria suddenly intervened. "Speaking from personal experience, when anyone lives the way you do, they don't forget their visitors. Now I heard that someone came by here asking for directions to the ranch. Do you remember him?"

"Why do you ask?" the old man asked curiously.

Saria needed to make something up. "We've…been waiting for him to come home. He hasn't been around in weeks."

Silence. The medicine man stood thinking.

"I remember one man," he finally said. "He came through the Lakeside Laboratory not too long ago and he did ask for directions to Lon Lon Ranch."

"And did you give him any?" Malon asked grimly.

"He seemed harmless enough," the medicine man recalled. "So I gave him the directions he needed."

"What did he look like?" Saria asked.

"He looked like some war leader," the old man answered. "I could tell by the black cape he wore with his uniform. He looked fearsome with his big goatee and his bald head. That's about all I can remember…about him. Oh yes, there was one more thing. He carried around a most unusual looking mask."

Mask? Saria and Malon both realized what this meant.

"Thank you," Malon said. "You've been a big help. We owe you one."

"Forget about it," the old man said gently. "From the looks of the sky, there doesn't seem to be much time left for you to pay me back, so we'll just call it even."

Malon waited until Saria walked out to point out what they had already suspected. "It's him. That's the guy with the mask."

"He must've done something with Link," Saria added. "And he's probably done something with Zelda too. But what do we do now? How do we find him?"

"Uh…ladies?"

Malon and Saria gasped and turned around to see the medicine man was still listening in. Saria thought he was inside, but apparently he was still around.

"I couldn't help but overhear," the old man continued. "I'm sorry, but I forgot to add one more important detail. The man you seek also asked for directions to Kakariko Village. I believe the people in the village may know where he is now."

That was it. That was the lead they were looking for.

"Then we're going to the village," Malon declared. "And we're going to put an end to this."


Chapter 29

Princess Saria couldn't just lie down anymore. She didn't want to seem ungrateful, after all, these two people saved her life and took her in. But she had to leave. The moon up above continued to come closer to colliding with this Hyrule. She had to hurry and stop this warlord before it was too late. It pained her to know that someone like him could take their thirst for vengeance this far. But just as he went to great lengths to end this world, Princess Saria would go to greater lengths to save it. After all, she owed to her friends from this world.

She got up from the bed she was lying on and started slowly walking out. But as she opened the door, she could clearly hear an argument ensuing.

"You've got to be kidding me! You're trying to cheat me!!"

It was a deep, gruff voice. Someone was obviously angered about something. The princess looked around to see where she was, and she found she was in a potion shop. The man who saved her must have owned the potion shop. Then it finally hit her. The potion shop owner in her world was named Pofrigitio, but since the massacre in her world's Kakariko Village, he had to move to Lon Lon Ranch. It was Pofrigitio who saved her. It didn't sound right though. The Pofrigitio of her world seemed so…sour. And why did this Pofrigitio seem to recognize her?

"I'm not trying to cheat you, sir. But there's been a demand for these potions and we simply have a low supply."

Princess Saria peered out from behind the wall to see Pofrigitio arguing with someone from behind the counter. The one he was arguing with was a large man with a black cape and a soldier's uniform. But the goatee and the bald head gave his identity away. This was the man she was looking for.

"Saria?"

The parallel princess nearly jumped when she heard someone calling out behind her. She turned around to see Pofrigitio's wife, Iogrotaye.

"You really shouldn't be out of bed," Io said quickly. "We should get you back in bed."

"No, wait," Princess Saria tried saying. "I need…to see that man. Wait…"

Princess Saria was led back into the bedroom and the door quickly closed. She could almost swear they were trying to keep her in there. But why? Were they trying to hide her from something…or someone?"

She couldn't think of that, though. She could only think about what she came for. The one she sought was here. This revenge-crazed maniac who came all the way from her world was here. But there was one thing she noticed that disturbed Princess Saria.

The warlord…wasn't wearing Majora's Mask.


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